Is Byron Buxton playing tonight? Latest update for Twins vs. Marlins (April 4th)
By Josh Hill
It’s been an incredible start to the season for the Minnesota Twins, both in terms of the team’s record and the way that its best players have been performing.
For all that was made about the very important return of Carlos Correa this winter, the Twins success has largely hinged on the health of Byron Buxton. So goes Buxton goes the Twins has been how things have gone these past few years, so to see him get off to such an incredibly hot start to the season is wildly encouraging.
Buxton has played in every game of the season so far, but has yet to take the field defensively. Instead, he’s been serving as the team’s designated hitter to ease into the season and the results have been phenomenal.
He can’t play every night, though, and as much as the Twins winning streak has been amazing to watch it can’t come at the risk of the roster’s health. Minnesota has already experienced an injury scare with Max Kepler needing to be taken out of Monday’s 11-1 win over Miami, and fans don’t need to be reminded of Buxton’s injury history.
Is Byron Buxton playing tonight? Latest update for Twins vs. Marlins (April 4, 2023)
For the first time this season, Byron Buxton is getting a night off. It comes after an absolutely scorching hot start to the season for him, in which he’s reached base multiple times in every game except for one and has a 1.007 OPS and .563 SLG to start the year.
So yeah, he deserves a day off.
With Buxton out, it marks the first time all season that Rocco Baldelli has significantly altered his lineup. Up to this point, the ony change has been who is playing catcher as the lineup as been identical in all four of the Twins games this season.
An injury to Max Kepler gave way to changes across the lineup as he’ll also be sitting out Tuesday’s game in Miami. Donovan Solano will replace Buxton as DH while Willi Castro is getting his first start of the year in left field.
Everything is going wonderfully for Buxton and the hope is that he remains healthy to keep the good times rolling.